Both improbably, when it is considered the Giants were 7-7 on Dec. 18 after a home loss to a bad team, the Washington Redskins. In that game, Manning was intercepted three times.

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And predictably.

Think about what the Giants did in the playoffs. They held Atlanta to just two points in the first playoff game. They went to Green Bay and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Packers when few thought they could do it.

They defeated San Francisco, a truly fierce team, also on the road, in the NFC championship game.

Ultimately, the Giants couldn't have been more impressive.

Manning wasn't spectacular like he has been in the playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl. He was good enough.

Manningham's brilliant over-the-shoulder catch on the deciding scoring drive will never be forgotten. It will be replayed forever. It ranks among the best plays ever made in the game. He was only the Giants fourth-leading receiver this season. Manningham also caught a key TD pass in the NFC championship game. When it mattered most, he was at his best.

Conversely, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's star is going to fade. It isn't fair. The Patriots were a limited team. They were exposed in the AFC title game by the Ravens, but were fortunate because of a missed field goal.

Brady isn't a perfect player, but he does keep his cool. He made a horrible mistake on the Patriots' first series, gunning the ball down the field where there was no receiver even remotely close, while under rush in the end zone. Safety. 2-0. Then, before Brady could get the ball back, the Giants went on a touchdown drive. 9-0.

But quickly, Brady got into rhythm. He led the Patriots to a field goal. Just before halftime, Brady led the Patriots on a 96-yard scoring drive.

The Patriots led 10-9 at halftime. In the second half, he led the Patriots on a 79-yard scoring drive.

Then he made a mistake. He avoided a sack, but then made an ill-advised pass toward tight end Rob Gronkowski that was intercepted. The Giants were back in the game. Momentum shifted.

Brady again was pinned with his back against the wall. With it third and five deep in his own territory, he completed a 19-yard pass for a first down. He eventually took more five minutes off the clock, but missed a key throw.

But who thought that game was over until the final play? When he heaved that ball into the end zone, who didn't think it had a chance simply because it was Tom Brady who had thrown it?

Gronkowski nearly caught it, too.

Brady's receivers didn't help him. They dropped passes. He didn't have any sort of running game to lean on with the lead.

Manning was just as calm. It didn't go perfectly for him, either. After the first scoring drive, the Giants had trouble finishing. They kept moving the ball. They kept settling for field goals. Yet, with less than four minutes remaining in the game, Manning got the ball, and immediately hit Manningham deep down the sideline. It wasn't just a great catch. It was a tremendous throw.

Time after time, Manning came through in the fourth quarter of games this season. And he did so on the biggest stage in the Super Bowl.

It wasn't an aesthetically pleasing game to watch at all times, but knowing the character of the characters involved in the drama made it nonetheless thrilling.

It also showed what a 7-7 team in late December is eventually capable of accomplishing with a little momentum and a great quarterback.